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Searching vs. Browsing

"I am trying to get my head around the topic of browsing." Jan, a Media Specialist from Wisconsin, recently asked:

"In your article, Five things today's digital generation cannot do (and what you can do to help) – Do you (only) Google? (Pt. 2 of a 5 part series), you mention that "The only time you ever search the live Internet is when you browse."

Can you give me a good description/definition of the relationship/difference between searching and browsing? Or maybe where it appears on a searching continuum? Do you have a flowchart available that reflects the relationship?

Thanks, Jan, for your question.

The following table & flowchart point out the main differences between searching and browsing:

Searching

Browsing

When searching you are exploring an indexed database webpage copies created by the search host.

A search engine like Google is constantly making copies of websites and saving those copies in their own computers. They've worked out a very fast indexing system. It is this system that you are searching. Even though the search engine company is making copies all the time, the copies you are searching could be old, out of date, or changed when compared to the original site on the live Internet.

When browsing you use your Web Browser to explore a working website.

You are viewing the site directly via your browser. What you see is what is on the web at that very moment.

Browsing is the only method of searching live information.

Browsing is also a way to search a Subject Directory, a collection of indexed information from a database.

There are three ways to search using a search engine:

Enter keywords/operators in the search engine box

Scan result snippets for information

Click links to the cached information or the live web page

There are three ways to search using a browser:

Enter a URL in the address box
Scan the page for information
Click links found in the browser window

The essential tasks involved in searching are:

Use keywords in queries

Scan results for relevant information

Select information from snippets in order to:

• conclude the search by scanning, skimming or reading

• enter new keywords in a query

• click a link to further information

The essential tasks involved in browsing are:

Uuse focused concepts to keep to guide your reading

Scan for relevant information

Select information from web pages in order to:

• conclude the search by scanning, skimming or reading

• click a link to further information

Use searching when:

You can identify keywords for a search

You need multiple information choices and/or perspectives

Use browsing when:

You know a specific web page to search

You need to brainstorm ideas for a topic (in which case, browse a Subject Directory)

You need up-to-the minute information on breaking news

This flow chart may help in selecting an initial, effective search strategy:

Search Strategy Flow Chart

For more information, check out these related resources:

	Article > Live Searching: About Browsing
	There is only one way to search live pages: browsing. Browsing requires knowing what keywords may lead in the direction of the information needed. Browsing also depends heavily on luck, which makes it a more difficult search method than using a search engine.
	Curriculum > Searching the Cache: Three Choices
	There are three ways to search a cache: search engine, subject directory and browsing. Each has advantages in certain situations.
	MicroModule > Search Engines
	Self-paced tutorial on how search engines work and why using more than one search engine is a good idea.

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